The Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on February 26, 2026, in what promises to be a high-energy matchup between two offensive teams that have struggled defensively in recent weeks. Both sides are coming into this game with something to prove. Toronto is trying to bounce back after an inconsistent stretch, while Florida looks to take advantage of home ice despite missing key players due to injuries.
This matchup has all the signs of a high-scoring contest. The Maple Leafs rely heavily on their star forwards like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares, who continues to deliver consistently. The Panthers, meanwhile, still possess strong attacking depth with Sam Reinhart, Matthew Tkachuk, and Carter Verhaeghe, even though injuries have affected their lineup. With both teams allowing more goals than usual and the total set high, fans can expect an open and attacking game in Sunrise.
Match Information
| Match | Toronto Maple Leafs vs Florida Panthers |
|---|---|
| Date | February 26, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM ET |
| Venue | Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida |
| TV | ESPN+ |
| Puck Line | Panthers -1.5 |
| Over/Under | 6.5 Goals |
| Moneyline | Panthers Favorites |
Team Performance Overview
| Category | Maple Leafs | Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 27-22-9 | 29-25-3 |
| Goals Per Game | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| Goals Against | 3.4 | 3.3 |
| Goal Differential | -8 | -20 |
| Power Play | 19.3% | 19.0% |
Recent Form & Trends
| Team | Last 10 Games | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Maple Leafs | 3-6-1 | Allowing 4.0 goals per game |
| Panthers | 4-6-0 | Allowing 3.5 goals per game |
| Over Trend | Combined 66-45-4 to Over | Strong Over trend |
Toronto is coming off a loss in Tampa Bay, while Florida returns after a long break and could show some early rust.
Projected Lineups
Toronto Maple Leafs
Forwards
- Bobby McMann – Auston Matthews – Max Domi
- Matias Maccelli – John Tavares – William Nylander
- Matthew Knies – Nicolas Roy – Nicholas Robertson
- Steven Lorentz – Scott Laughton – Dakota Joshua
Defense
- Morgan Rielly – Ilya Lyubushkin
- T.J. Brodie – Timothy Liljegren
- Simon Benoit – Pontus Holmberg
Goaltenders
- Joseph Woll (Projected Starter)
- Anthony Stolarz
Florida Panthers
Forwards
- Carter Verhaeghe – Evan Rodrigues – Sam Reinhart
- Matthew Tkachuk – Sam Bennett – Mackie Samoskevich
- Eetu Luostarinen – Anton Lundell – Brad Marchand
- Depth Line – Kyle Okposo unit
Defense
- Gustav Forsling – Brandon Montour
- Niko Mikkola – Oliver Ekman-Larsson
- Dmitry Kulikov – Uvis Balinskis
Goaltenders
- Sergei Bobrovsky (Projected Starter)
- Backup: Panthers depth option
Injury Report
Toronto Maple Leafs
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Chris Tanev | Out (Groin) |
| Dakota Mermis | Out |
| Dakota Joshua | Expected to play after recent activation |
Florida Panthers
| Player | Status |
|---|---|
| Aleksander Barkov | Out (Knee) |
| Seth Jones | Out |
| Tomas Nosek | Out |
| Jonah Gadjovich | Out |
| Dmitry Kulikov | Day-to-day |
Florida enters this game slightly undermanned, especially at center with Barkov unavailable.
Key Players to Watch
| Maple Leafs | Panthers |
|---|---|
| Auston Matthews | Sam Reinhart |
| William Nylander | Matthew Tkachuk |
| John Tavares | Carter Verhaeghe |
| Morgan Rielly | Anton Lundell |
Head-to-Head (H2H)
| Category | Trend |
|---|---|
| Season Series | Maple Leafs lead 2-0 |
| Aggregate Score | Toronto 8 – Florida 2 |
| Player Trend | Tavares has a point in each game |
Despite the H2H edge for Toronto, Florida holds the advantage at home.
Also see: Penguins vs. Devils Prediction: Lineup, Last Games, Injury Report, Player Props
Player Props to Watch
| Player | Pick |
|---|---|
| John Tavares | Over 0.5 Points |
| Bobby McMann | Over 1.5 Shots |
| Auston Matthews | Over Shots / Anytime Point |
| Sam Reinhart | Anytime Point |
| Matthew Tkachuk | Over 0.5 Points |
Best Picks for Maple Leafs vs Panthers
| Market | Pick |
|---|---|
| Moneyline | Panthers |
| Puck Line | Panthers -1.5 |
| Total | Over 6.5 |
| Team Total | Maple Leafs Over 2.5 |
| Prop | Tavares Over 0.5 Points |
Match Prediction
Both teams are capable of scoring, but Florida’s home advantage and deeper lineup give them a slight edge. Toronto’s defense has struggled recently, and Florida’s top lines should find scoring opportunities. At the same time, the Leafs’ star power should keep the game competitive.
Predicted Score:
Panthers 4 – Maple Leafs 3
Expect an entertaining and open contest with plenty of scoring chances on both sides. The Panthers’ home ice and overall depth make them the safer pick, while the strong offensive trend between these teams makes the Over the best value play. John Tavares’ form also makes him a key prop target in this matchup.
